FAQs on the online application UPSC CSE Examination

Find answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) concerning the UPSC Civil Services Examination (CSE) online application procedure. Learn about important facts, step-by-step instructions, and important information to help you navigate the application process smoothly.

1. What is meant by Part I and Part II of the Application Form?
Answer – Online Application Form consists of two parts i.e. Part I and Part II.

Part I of the Application: It has personal details like name, father’s/mother’s name, date of birth, address, educational qualification, age relaxation, scribe details (only for PwBD candidates opting for scribe) and preferences of particular Examination etc. The applicants are also required to mention the number of Photo ID cards.

Part II of the Application: It consists of a payment option for Examination Fee (only for those who are not exempted from payment of fee), Centre of Examination along with uploading of photo, signature and photo ID card of the candidate. The candidate has to complete both Part I and Part II and submit finally to complete the application process successfully.

2. What non-filling up of Part II/Non-submission of fee results in? 
Answer – If only PART-I of the application is submitted without submitting PART-II, the application remains incomplete, and candidature cannot be registered. The application is incomplete even in cases where the applicant has submitted PART-I and paid the fee as well but has not completed PART-II (i.e. failed to submit Centre, photograph, signature and photo ID card).

Non-payment of Fee (if not exempted from Fee payment) will lead to cancellation of the candidature.

3. What is RID?

Answer: RID is the Registration ID, which is generated by the system when the applicant completes PART-I registration of his/her application. 

4. What is TID?
Answer – TID is Transaction ID, which is given by the State Bank India when the applicant deposits his/her fee in cash. It is automatically generated when Internet Banking or credit/debit card mode is used for making the fee
payment.

5. What are the steps in PART-II registration?
Answer – Part II registration comprises of following steps: –
1. Fee payment (only for candidates not exempted from payment of fee).
2. Choosing the Examination Centre from the available drop-down menu.
3. Uploading of photograph, signature and photo ID card.
4. Agreeing to the Declaration.
6. How can I choose my exam centre? 
Answer – The online system will not allow the candidate to submit the form if he/she has left the choice of Centre blank in Part II and the status of the application will remain “not submitted”. Thus, he/she will not be the candidate for that particular Examination. Therefore, candidates are advised to click on the “submit” button after selecting the Examination Centre.
7.  What would happen if I entered the wrong TID in case of payment through Bank Challan?
Answer – It is seen that some candidates who submit their fees through Bank Challan either enter the wrong TID or submit an old TID. It has also been observed that submission of multiple applications is followed by either non-payment of fee OR fee particulars (TID) of one application (RID) being mentioned against another application with a different RID. This leads to the rejection of the online application.
8. What would happen if I wrongly swapped the photograph and signature or uploaded poor quality image?

Answer – Poor quality of uploaded photograph and signature or swapping of the same will lead to complications in future. Therefore, candidates are advised to follow the relevant instructions carefully regarding acceptable photographs/signatures in the application module at the time of application.

9. If a candidate has applied for the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination but has not appeared on any paper in the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, will it be counted as an attempt?

Answer: No, an attempt is counted only if a candidate has appeared in at least one paper in the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination

10. What is the procedure adopted for allotment of Roll Numbers, Centre and Venues to the candidates?

Answer: The computer is used to assign Roll Numbers and Venues to qualified candidates in a random way, with no human interaction. The Commission takes every attempt to provide the candidate the centre of his/her choice on a “first-apply-first-allot” basis. Once a Centre’s capacity has been reached, it will not be available to candidates as a choice. As a result, the candidates are required to select one of the offered Centres. It is, thus, advised to apply early to get the choice Centre. It should be noted that the Commission may alter the applicants’ centres at its discretion to meet specific circumstances arising then.

11. Are requests for change of Centre/ Venue accepted?
Answer: No request for change of Centre / Venue is accepted.
12.  Can a candidate appear at a Centre/Venue other than the Venue mentioned his/her e-Admit Card?
Answer:  No candidate is allowed to appear at a Centre/Venue other than the Centre/Venue mentioned by the Commission in his/her e-Admit Card. If a candidate appears at such a Centre/Venue (except by a court order), the papers of that candidate shall not be evaluated, and his/her candidature will be liable for cancellation.

13. How much time is given to the candidates for applying online?

Answer: The deadline for applying online is explicitly stated in the Examination Notice. An applicant has around three weeks to apply online and may fill out the online application by following the directions provided on the website.

14. What happens if a candidate submits multiple online applications?

Answer: While an applicant should avoid submitting more than one online application, the Commission accepts the data provided in the last application (highest RID Number) that is successfully submitted online. All earlier applications are ignored since they are combined with the last completed and finally submitted application. If an applicant (who has previously successfully submitted an application) wishes to make changes to the application, he must submit a new application on or before the Examination’s last day for application submission. As a result, it must be assured that the fee is only paid against the most recent online application, which must also be complete in all aspects, including its final submission. Fees paid against one RID are not adjusted against any other RID number.

Clink on the links attached, for details on UPSC Notification, Calendar and admit card.